Apparatus for liquefaction and rectification of gases



Oct. 26 1926.

c. c. VAN NUYS APPARATUS FOR LIQUEFACTION AND RECTIF ICATION OF GASES Original Filed Dec. 2, 1919 INVENTOR G /M f 4- ATTORNEYS vlb atented otaa192a UNIT o .1;

trauma cjv'an'novs; or cmronn, :Nnwcnnsn'r, nssrenoa-ro AIR nnioocrron company, mconroaa'rnn, or New max, at. Y., noonrona'rron or new YORK.-

.APPARATUS FOR LIQUEFACTION AND BECTIFIGATION OF GAEES.

*flriginal. application filed December 2, W19, Serial No. 841,958. Divided and this application filed December 6. N24.

This invention relates to the liquefaction and separation of gases in gaseous mixtures, and particularly to the accomplishment of such separationin the most economical manner for the purpose of recovering the constituent gases. This application is a division of application Serial No. 341,958, filed Dec. 2 1919.

lit has been proposed heretofore and commercial methods are now operated, to separate the constituent gases of a mixture, for 7 example, atmospheric air, by liquefaction and subsequent. rectification. Methods, as

, heretofore practiced, have, however, a relatively low efiiciency, when compared to the theoretical possibilities, and it is with the object of increasing theefliciency and, therefore, the economy of liquefaction methods that T have undertaken extensive study of the fundamental requirements thereotv V The work required to separate the constituents of a gaseous mixture by liquefaction is made up of certain fundamental components which are, first, the work of separating the molecules of the constituent gases, and bringing the partial pressures of the respective constituents, when separated, up to atmospheric; secondythe work required to remove heat leaking into the system from external sources and,'third, the mechanical losses of the system. The first component is a constantfor iven mixtures of gases, and the second an third depend upon efficiency of insulation and of the mechanical devices employed. Practically, however, a relatively enormous co ponent has been added-to the total energy expended in liquefaction and rectification of gaseous mixtures as a result .of irreversiblepressure drops, which have heretofore been considered unavoidable.

It is the object of my invention to substantially eliminate the latter 'com nent, thereby approaching more closely t e theoretical limit of eflicienc in the separation of constituent gases a mixture, and to provide an apparatus for the accomplishment of this purpose, thus cheapening the groduot and rendering it available for exten ed usage.

Another object of the invention is the reduction of the totalenergy consumed in separating the constituents of a gaseous mixture by expanding the gases leaving the apparatus with the recovery of energy and the cooling of the mixture before compression to reduce the initial energy required.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following specification, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which I have diagrammatically illustrated one form of apparatus adapted for use in carrying out my inven= tion, it belng understood that, for the purpose of clarity, no attempt has been made to tinctive features thereof maybe a preciated,

I shall outline briefly the norma operation of a commercial oxygen ap aratus,,according to a well known method ascribed in Letters Patent No. 981,748. Thus, atmospheric air is compressed f to a pressure of substantially thirty atmospheres in a two-stage compressor provided with intercoolers. and

aftercoolers supplied with water, and is thereafter cooled in temperature exchangers by indirect contact with gases resulting from the separation. A portion of the cooled air in by indirect contact with the cold separated gases, before the latter pass to the exchangers. The liquid produced in the liquefier 1s conveyed past a pressure reducing valve to a ot at the base of a rectification column. The other'portion of the cooled air .is conveyedto a liquefier and is cooled thereis conve ed to an expansion engine where it is coole by expansion with external work to,

a pressure of four to five atmospheres, which is the pressure prevailing in the lower part of the column. The cooled air from the ent gine passes into the pot, heretoforereferred to, and thence-upwardly through tubes of'a va orizer which-contains liquid oxygen resu ting from rectification as hereinafter described, and which is evaporating at a some what lower ressure than that of the air in the tubes. %xygen and some nitrogen are liquefied in the tubes and return to the pot, mixing with the liquid delivered from the liquefier. The pot is divided into two compartments, in one of which the liquid accumulates as described. The second compartment is connected to a series of tubes, through which the uncondense'd residue of the incoming air, being substantially pure nitrogen, passes downwardly in indirect contact with liquid oxygen in the vaporizer. The nitrogen is thereby liquefied and accumulates in the second compartment.

From the first compartment the liquid rich in oxygen is conveyed upwardly through a pipe, having a pressure reducing valve, and is discharged into the rectification compartment of the column, which is provided with a series of trays, holding a suply of liquid through which ascending vapor bubbles with resulting progressive enrichment of the vapor in nitrogen. Since the pressure in the vaporizer at the base of the column must be released sufficiently to enable the liquid oxygen contained therein to liquefy the substantially pure nitrogen, circulating in the tubes connected to the second compartment, throttling of the liquid by means of the pressure reducing valve must be resorted to, and this causes an irreversible pressure drop and a serious loss in etficiency as hereinafter explained. The liquid nitrogen from the second compartment is conveyed through a similar pipe and pressure reducing valve into the column and is discharged at a point above the inlet for liquid rich in oxygen. The liquid nitrogen must also be throttled down to the pressure prevailing in the rectification compartment with a corresponding loss in efiiciency. Gaseous oxygen is withdrawn from the vaporizer, 'and nitrogen, mixed with more or less oxygen, escapes at the top of the column. The gases are separately conveyed through the liquefier and exchanged to cool the incoming air by transfer of heat to the outgoing gases.

It will be appreciated as this description proceeds that, while the method described is the most efficient heretofore known for the purpose, it is subject to a number of disadvantages, which prevent the highest efii liency and which I proposeto overcome as hereinafter set forth. For example, although the gaseous mixture is primarily compressed to about thirty atmospheres at great expense, the products of the separation are discharged at a pressure below three atmospheres without recovery of energy except for three to four per cent. delivered by the expansion engine, and only one gas is recovered in a substantially pure condition, the other, in this case, nitrogen, carrying upward to six per cent. of oxygen. The mixture of this oxygen with the proportion of nitrogen required by the composition of air,

amounts to substantially twenty-four per cent. of the air originally entering the ap paratus and is discharged withthe remaining nitrogen to the atmosphere. A relativel 1 lar e ro )ortion of the air escaaes 1herevapor has a composition closely approaching that necessary for phase equilibrium with the liquid at those levels. \Ve may assume that the composition of the first or liquid rich in oxygen includes substantially forty-seven per cent. of oxygen. liquid composition necessary for phase equilibrium with the incoming air at the base of the column, and thus represents the maximum possible enrichment in oxygen attainable without further rectification.

If any of the second or high nitrogen liquid be admitted to the rectification chamber above the inlet for liquid rich in oxygen, it is certain, if pure oxygen is to be obtained, that the upward passing vapor must vaporize an amount of this liquid equivalent to its nitrogen content, being in part liquefied thereby. The result of this liquefaction ot the upwardly passing vapor is the production, at the entrance level of the first liquid, of a downwardly flowing liquid which is enriched in oxygen. The limiting composition of this liquid will be the same as that of the first liquid and will be attained only if the amount of the upwardly passing vapor liquefied by the second liquid entering at the top of the rectifier does not exceed a certain definite amount.

In the method under discussion, the amount of available nitrogen liquid is in excess of that required to produce the equilib rium composition at the lower inlet and if we allow nothing but pure nitrogen to es- This is the cape at the top, the liquid passing down wardly will contain all of the oxygenofthe original air mixed with 4 to 5% argon which must appear at the bottom of the rectification chamber. On the other hand, if we vaporize an amount of liquid sufficient to insure the production of nothing but pure oxygen at the bottom, the amount of downwardly flowing liquid is insufficient to li uefy the oxygen in the vapor and oxygen wi 1 appear at the top. It is apparent, therefore, that it is impossible to obtain pure oxygen withill ' to the other.

neoaaae out considerable loss of oxygen in the efiuent gas from the operation of this method if all of the nitrogen liquid is admitted at the top of the column.

The losses in the method described, which are due to throttling have already been mentioned. We have seen, for example, that the pressure in the rectification column must be low enough to enable liquid oxygen at the reduced pressure to condense pure nitrogen at a higher pressure inside the vertical tubes of the vaporizer, this diderence of pressure being accomplished by throttling through the two pressure reducing valves employed, and that all of the nitrogen is liquefied.

To separate a mixture of two gases into its constituents, the theoretic minimum of work required depends upon the partial pressures exerted by the two constituents during an isothermal compression of each constituent up to a pressure equal to that exerted by the mixed gases, by means of a piston impermeable to one and permeable This work is thus independent of the difference between the condensation pressures of either constituent at any temperature. If the difi'erence of pressure maintained between opposite sides of an expansion device is such that the loss of available energy in the fluid mixture, because of the lowering of the pressure thereof, is just equal to the theoretic work of separation, then, since the latter work is theoretically recoverable, the whole operation is reversible and it will be just possible theoretically to completely separate the two constituents, by reversibly lowering the pressure on all the liquids produced to the pressures required. If, however, the loss of available energy by the lowering of pressure is greater than the theoretic work required for separation, there is a net amount of available energy expended by that operation. lln this discussion, the assumption is made that the lowering of pressure upon the liquid is accomphshed reversibly, i. e., this decrease of pressure occurs by reason of the liquid acting as the working substance of an ideal adiabatic engine or liquid motor and thus the dissipation of available energy resulting in the actual case from the irreversible expansion through the reducing valves, is neglected. This dissipation of available energy is regarded as inevitable on account of the impracticability of employing a reversible engine to expand the liquid under the conditions prevailing.

The excess liquid throttled in rectification by the method described in which all of the liquid is throttled over and above that amount necessary to accomplish complete separation, carries a definite amount of available energy, which becomes irrecoverable. This dissipation of available energy reduces the efficiency of the method and thus adds to its cost of operation. The efliciency of the method is further reduced by throttling the liquid produced in the liquefier from the pressure delivered by the compressor down to that prevailing inside the lower end of the column.

ll have discovered that these difliculties idea of liquefying only a portion of a gaseous mixture, this being accomplished at the initial pressure, i. e., as delivered by the compressor. The mixture treated may, for purposes of illustration, be considered as air, although the same principles are applicableto other gaseous mixtures. The portion liquefied will carry all of the oxygen contained in the original mixture,'together with some of the nitrogen and argon, the theoretical possible upper limit of oxygen content in the liquid being substantially 47 per cent, which is the composition of liquid necessary for phase equilibrium with vapor of air composition. The remaining gas, consisting substantially of nitrogen and argon, will be withdrawn from the apparatus at the initial pressure. The nitrogen, which will carry a small amount of argon, may be used for any of the purposes to which it is adapted without further rectification or other treatment.

The liquid portion will then be rectified by subjecting it in a suitable column to direct contact with vapors arising from a vaporizer, containing substantially pure liquid oxygen resulting from the rectification. The evaporating oxygen serves, by heat interchange, to liquefy a portion of the in- Primarily, my invention rests upon the' llO coming air as hereinbefore explained, and the rectifying column may be maintained at a pressure somewhat below that of the incoming air, the difiference in pressure being produced by the necessary throttling of the liquid discharged into the column from the receptacle in which it is accumulated. This difference of pressure between the liquid oxygen surrounding the vertical tubes of the vaporizer and the gases passing upward in those tubes must be sutficient to enable liqnidoxygen to cause, by indirect contact, condensation of the ascending gases in said tubes. I do not propose, however, to liquefy the substantially pure nitrogen leaving the top of the tubular system, and it is clear, therefore, that a smaller degree of throttling of the liquid will be required,

ill

than is necessary in earlier methods where the liquid oxygen is called upon to condense substantially pure nitrogen.

'nce the composition of the liquid dis charged into the column is substantially that determined by phase equilibrium with gasethis air in the system so that all of the air passing through the apparatus is eventually separated into its constituents. The liquid passing through the reducing valve will thus include that derived from the air-which has been returned to the apparatus byfcycling, in addition to that derived from "air taken into the system by the compressor. The amount of available energy expended by reason of the throttling operation upon'this liquid becomes as nearly equal as possible to the theoretically recoverable work of completely separating the two constituent gases of the mixture treated, i. e., the whole operation is rendered as nearly reversible as is practicable and hence its thermodynamic efficiency will approach as closely as possible the theoretic maximum.

Substantially pure oxygen is withdrawn from the vaporizer, hereinbefore referred to, and because of'tlie simplification of-theirectifying operation, it is possible to produceoxygen of a purity of 99 per cent. or better, Without excessive loss of oxygen, a result which has not been heretofore achieved. The oxygen escapes at a pressure somewhat below the initial pressure and may be stored and used in the ordinary manner.

Tn carrying out my method, ll utilize and extend the principle of expansion after liquefaction as described and claimed in the application for Letters Patent of Monta ue Roberts and Claude C. Van Nuys, erial No. 280,515 filed March at, 1919. This application involves the discovery of the advantages of liquefaction at the initial pressure and subsequent expansion of the separated products. As has been previously noted, the nitrogen is delivered from the column at the initial pressure of the incoming air and the oxygen and efiuentair escape at a slightly lower pressure. These gases are very cold and of substantially the same temperature. The low temperature is transferred to incoming air and the gases thus warmed and at high pressure are capable of expansion, in suitable engines, to recover a large part of the energy, originally expended in bringing the air to its initial pressure. This energy may be employed in compressing further quantities of air, the energy lost in the apparatus being made up from an external source. Preferably only the nitrogen and oxygen are thus expanded acoeaae in carrying out my method; The low temperature of these gases, developed by expansion, is utilized in cooling the column and interchangers to make up 1i uid evaporated by the heat leakage through t e walls thereof.

I also utilize and extend the principle of cooling of the incoming gaseous mixture prior to compression as described and claimed in the application for Letters Patent of Montague H. Roberts and Claude C. V an Nuys, Serial No. 289,099, filed April 10, 1919. The latter application involves the discovery that the work required in compressing a quantity of gas corresponding to a predetermined eliluent volume is reduced if the gas is cooled prior to compression. T, there fore, employ an exchanger of temperature, in

which the air prior to primary compression is sub ected to heat interchange with a cold gas leaving the system, this arrangement makmg it possible to ut1lize efficiently any is then further compressed to the desired incoming air passes to the exchanger for furabled to closely approach the theoretically 3 possible thermodynamic efiiciency in a liquefaction system, thus reducing materially the cost of recovering the constituent gases.

lln starting the operation, the apparatus is, of course, at atmospheric temperature and there is no liquid collected, so that it is necessary to reduce the temperature of the apparatus to that required for liquefaction and to produce a supply of liquid before the noranal operation is commenced, I provide, therefore, for the expansion of compressed air in the engines until the system is suiliciently cooled and a supply of liquid has accumulated.

The details of operation, including starterence to the drawing. The rectification column comprises a shell 5 divided by partitions 6, 7 and 8 to rovide a pot 9, a gas [chamber 10, a liquid chamber 11, and a lllfl ing, will be more clearly understood by refrectification chamber 12. A plurality of tubes 13, passing through the partitions 6 and 7 and terminating in a head-'14, are adapted to permit passage of gas from the pot 9 to the head, in indirect contact with gas in the chamber 10 and liquid in the chamber 11. A plurality of bafiles are disposed within the chamber 10 to direct the passage of gas 'therein downwardly and about the tubes 13, and a supplemental receiver 16 for liquid is supported within the chamber 11, so that liquid overflowing therefrom collects in the bot-tom of the chamber. The rectification chamber 12 is provided with a plurality of baflies 17 having gas outlets 18 and caps 19 which permit the upward passage of gases through the battles and the layers of liquid maintained thereon.

This liquid is delivered to the rectification chamber 12 through a pipe 20, having a pressure reducing valve 21 therein and communieating with the bottom of the 'ot 9 in which liquidaccumulates as hereina ter described. The liquid flowing downwardly over the baiiles 17 gradually gives up its more readily vaporizable constituent and is finally delivcred through a pipe 22 to the receiver 16. The liquid in the receiver 16' is evaporated by heat transferred from gas passing through the tubes 13 and the vapor thus released passes upwardly through the rectification chamber 12, where it is joined by the more readily vaporizable constituent released from the liquid, while the more readily liquefiable constituent therein joins the liquid flowing down through the rectification. chamber and is returned to the receiver 16. A

The gaseous effluent escapes from the rectification chamber 12 through a pipe 23. The liquid accumulating in the bottom ofthe chamber 11 comprises one of the constituents of the gaseous'mixture, treated in a substantially pure condition and, being vaporized by heat derived from the gaseous mixture passing through the tubes 13, it escapes through a pipe 24.. A portion of the vapor passes upwardly through the column to assist in the rectification. The flow of vapor is regulated by the valve 95 which controls the effluent from the top of the column. The' gaseous mixture to be liquefied and separated is delivered to the pot 9 through a pipe 25, and in passing through the tubes 13 a portion only of the gas is liquefied and drops into the pot, the residual gas being delivered to the head 14 and escaping through a pipe 26. There are thus three separate gases delivered from the column and if air is the gaseous mixture treated, the

efiluent gas delivered through the pipe 23 will have substantially the composition of air, while substantially pure oxygen rand nitrogen are respectively delivered through agate the pipes 24 and 26. These gases are extremcly cold and serve as a cooling'medium for the incoming gaseous mixture.

I, therefore, provide an exchanger 27 in which the incoming aseous mixture is subjected to heat interc ange with the various products of the column. The exchanger comprises a shell 28 divided into sections A. B, C and D, each section comprising a plurality of tubes 29 and 30 and a plurality of bafiies 31 which cause the incoming gaseous mixt me-surrounding the tubes to travel back and forth across the section as it advances. The pipe 25 is connected to the section A of the exchanger so that the gaseous mixture, after circulating about the bafiles 31, is delivered thereto and thence to the pot 9. The pipes 23 and 24, and a pipe 32 communicating with the chamber 10 of the column, are connected to chambers 33', 34 and 35 at one end of the section A of the exchanger with each of which a number of tubes 30 communicate; The pipe 26 is similarly connected to a chamber 36 at the end of the section A with which the pipes 29 communicate. Thus, all of the products ot the column are separately delivered to and pass through the tubes 29 and 30 in contact with the incoming gaseous mixture.

The tubes 30 of section A deliver the several gases to chambers 37 38 and 39, intermediate sections A and B of the exchanger and thence to the tubes 3601? section B. The gas passing through the tubes 29 in the section A is delivered to a chamber 40 and the'n'ce through a pipe 41 to a chamber 42 communicating with the tubes 29 of the section B. A pipe 43 delivers the incoming gaseous mixture from the section B to the section A. The tubes 30 terminate in chambers 44, 45 and 46 intermediate the sections B and C and the tubes 29 terminate in a chamber 47 similarly disposed.

The gas in the chamber 47 .is delivered through a pipe 48' to a corresponding chamber 49 in the section G of the exchanger. -A portion of the gas, which in the treatment oi air, is substantially pure nitrogen, is withdrawnthrough a pipe 50, controlled by a valve 51, and is delivered to an engine 52 Where it is expanded with external work andthereby cooled. Thence the gas passes through a pipe 53 to the chamber 10 of the column and the cold produced by expansion is utilized therein in the preliminary lique faction of the gaseous mixture. The cold gas circulates about the bafiies 15 and esca es through the pipe 32 to the exchanger.

rom the chamber 45 of the section B of the exchanger, the as is conveyed through a pipe 54 to a cham 30 of section C communicate. A pipe 56 conveys gas from the chamber 46 to a chamber 57 with whioh tubes 30 of section 0 also communicate. Tubes 29 of section C com.-

er 55, with which tubes BSO municate with the chamber 49 receiving a portion of the gas from the chamber 47. A pipe 58 conveys gas from the section C of the exchanger to the section B, after the gas has passed about the bafies 31 therein. The tubes deliver the gases passing there- 'through to chambers 59 and 60 intermediate the sections C and D of the exchanger, and the tubes 29 deliver the gas conveyed thereby to a chamber 61. The gas from the chamber 61 is delivered through a pipe 62 to a chamber 63 in the section D of the exchanger. The tubes 29 of section D communicate with the chamber 63 and the tubes 30 with the chambers 59 and 60. The gaseous mixture in the section D escapes through a pipe 64 to the section C. The gases are delivered by the pipes 29 to a chamber 65 and by the pipes 30 to chambers 66 and 67 at the end of the exchan er.

From the chamber 65, t e gas, which, in the treatment of air, is substantially pure nitrogen, is withdrawn through a pipe 68 controlled by a valve '69 and is delivered to an engine 70, where it is expanded with external work and is delivered through a pipe 71 to the chamber 57- of the exchanger where it mixes with the gas previously expanded in the engine 52 and entering through the pipe 56. The cold produced by the expansion of the gas inthe engine is thus utilized in cooling the incoming aseous mixture. A portion of this cold gas is drawn from the engine 70 to a pipe 72 controlled by a valve 73 and is delivered to an exchanger 74 as hereinafter described.

Gas from the chamber 66 at the end of the exchanger, which, in the treatment of air is substantially pure oxygen, is withdrawn through a pipe 75 controlled b a valve 76 and is delivered to an engine 77 whereit is expanded with external work and delivered through a pipe 78 oontrolled'by a valve 79 to the exchanger 74. The exchanger 74.-

is employed in precooling the incoming gaseous mixture and comprises a shell 80 and a plurality of tubes 81 terminating in chamers 82 and 83. The aseous mixture enters the shell 80 throug a pipes; and is delivered therefrom through a pipe 85. The

pipes 72 and 78 supply cold gases from the engines 70 and 77 to the chambers 82 and 83, and the gases pass through the tubes 81 to'the opposite chambers 82 and 83 from which they escape through pipes 86 and 87. The incoming gaseous mixture is thus cooled by indirect contact with cold products from the column and the precooling thusaccomplished causes a preliminary condensation of the gaseous mixture. Thus it is possible for the compressors, as hereinafter described, to handle a considerably greater volume of gas than would be pos sible if the gas entered at normal atmospheric temperature,

neonate The cold gaseous mixture is delivered from the pipe to a single stage compressor 89, where it is initially compressed. The compressed gaseous mixture escapes through a pipe 90 to an intercooler 91 in which the gaseous mixture is cooled by indirect contact with water. Thence the gas passes through a pipe 92 to a compressor 93. A. pipe 9% controlled by a valve 95 conveys gas which, in the treatment of air, is the effluent, escaping from the top of the rectification column and havin substantially the composition of air, to the pipe 92 where it mixes with the incoming gaseous mixture. The gas delivered through the' pipe 94 is very cold and serves, by mixing with the incoming compressed gaseous mixture, to precool the latter in a manner similar to the precooling in the exchanger 74: with a corresponding efibct upon the capacity of the compressor 93. From the compressor 93 the gaseous mixture is delivered to a ipe 96 to an attercooler 97 where it is su jected to the cooling action of water and is thence conveyed to a pi e 98 to the section T) of the exchanger 2 In the exchanger, as previously described, the gaseous mixture is cooled by heat interchange with the various products of the column and is finally delivered at an extremely low temperature 90 through the pipe 25 to the pot 9. The gas in the chamber 67. at the end of the exchanger 27 which has been previously expanded in v the engines.52 and 70, escapes through a pipe 99,

Obviously in starting the operation, the entire system is at atmospheric temperatureand the desired low temperature must be established by the expansion of the previously compressed gaseous mixture. For Wt this, purpose I provide a by-pass 100 controlled by a valve 101 and connecting the ipes 50 and 94 and a by-pass 102 controlled y a valve 103 connecting the pipes 72 and 78. In starting the valves 101 and 103 are o ned and the valves 73, 79 and 95 are c osed, while a valve 104 in the pipe 71 is opened fully, it being partially closed in normal operation. 7

The gaseous mixture, after compression and passage through the exchanger 27, enters the column through the pi e 25. A portion thereof escapes through t e ipe 23 and another ortion leaves through-the pipe 24;, the remamder being delivered through the ipe 26. The aseous mixture reentering tihe exchanger 2 from the pipe 26 passes through the tubes 29 of sections'A and B. and a portion is withdrawn and ex anded in the engine 52, and is thereby coole The cooled gaseous mixture passes through the pipe 53 to the chamber 10, causing the progressive coolin of the incoming gaseous mixture:=in the tu es; 73. The gaseous mixture escaping from the chamber 10 through the pipe 32 travels through tubes 30 of the exchanger and is finally delivered through the pipe 99.

Another portion of the gaseous mixture.

from the pipe 26 is withdrawn, after passage through the tubes 29' of sections C and D of the exchanger, and is delivered through the pipe 68 to the engine 7 0 where it is expanded and thereby cooled. The cooled gaseous mixture is delivered by the pipe 71 to the exchanger 27 and, mixing with the expanded product of the engine 52, it passes through the tubes 30 in sections C and D to the pipe 99. a

a The gaseous mixture from the pipe 23 passes through the tubes 30 in sect-ions A and Bof exchanger 27 and is delivered by the pipe 94 and by-passlOO to the engine 52, joining the gaseous mixture from the pipe 26 before expansion in the engine. The gaseous mixture from the pipe 24, after passing through the tubes 30 in all sections of the exchanger 27, is delivered by the pipe 7 5 to the engine 77 where it is expanded and cooled. The cooled gaseous mixture is delivered through the pipe 78, by pass 102 and pipe 72 and 71 to the exchanger 27, mixing with the expanded gaseous mixture from the engine and after passing through the tubes 30 in. sections C and D of exchanger 27, the gaseous mixture escapes through the pipe 99.

llt will be apparent that in starting, all of the gaseous mixture is expanded, after compression and that cooling of the gaseous mixture is thus progressively carried on until the desired low temperature is attained and liquid is deposited in the pot 9. The method is particularly effective in starting, the temperatures falling rapidly so that the method is in full operation in a much shorter time than is possible with previously known 4 methods Of course, when the desired temperatures have been attained, the valves are readjusted to the normal working conditions as previously described.

With the arrangement of the apparatus clearly in mind, it will be apparent that the proposed method of liquefaction involves numerous novel principles which distinguish it from methods heretofore employed in the liquefaction and rectification of gases. Assuming that the method is in operation and that air is being treated, it will be noted that the air is subjected in the column to cooling by indirect contact, first, with the cold gaseous product and subsequently by contact with an evaporating liquid so that the more liquefiable constituent is separated and flows into the pot 9, while the residual gas which is substantially pure nitrogen passes ofl through the pipe 26. During the liquefaction operation, there is no release from the pressure of the gaseous mixture and consequently the nltrogen escapes from the column at its initial pressure and after giving up its cold, it is expanded in suitable engines to recover a large proportion of the energy originally employed in bringing the gaseous mlxtureto the initial pressure. The nitrogen is, moreover, withdrawn from the cycle,

so far as the further treatment of the gaseous the pot 9 and consequently this efiuent gas corresponds in composition'to atmospheric air. The effluent gas is extremely cold and after passing through the exchanger it may be discharged to the atmosphere through a valved outlet However, as above noted,

it is preferably employed while still in a cold condition and at a pressure of the upper part oft-he column to precool the gaseous mixture before the latter passes to the second compressor. through the rectification compartment 12 meets vapors arising from the liquid in the receptacle-'16 so that nitrogen is gradually separated from the. liquid which finally arrives in the bottom of the chamber 11 as substantially pure liquid oxygen. The liquid is there vaporized and escapes through the pipe 24. llt will be here noted that both oxygen and nitrogen in a substantially pure condition are delivered from the column, and that the separation is accomplished without an excessive pressure drop.

The oxygen escaping through the pipe 24 and air escaping through the pipe 23 at very nearly the initial pressure of the incoming air. The oxygen, being at high pressure, may, after it has been warmed by indirect contact with the incoming air,-be expanded in a"'suitable engine to recover the portion of the energy originally expended in compressing the incoming air,-the recovery ofenergy. from this source when combined with that recovered by the expansion of nitrogen delivered from the column, compris- The liquid passing down ing the major portion of the energy origithe initial compression there is a marked saving in operation, Precooling of the gas I before compression introduces a further saving and the elimination of one constituent, for example, nitrogen, without liquefaction completes the possible economic advantages to be effected in a liquefaction operation.

liZU

The pressures and temperatures attained in the practice of the method will depend upon well known principles of liquefaction and will vary with gaseous mixtures of different character. It will not be necessary, however, to employ initial pressures as high as has been heretofore essential, nor will the the temperatures be so low as is required when all of the gaseous mixture treated must be liquefied. wide variation no attempt is made herein to set forth in detail the pressures and temperature employed. It is sufficient to note that in the treatment of air, initial pressures upward to 30 atmospheres willbe quite sufficient and that a temperature well above the critical temperature of nitrogen may be developed for example-156 C. in the liquefaction zone.

I am aware that various changes may be made in the apparatus herein described without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combination of means for subjecting the mixture \to selective liquefaction to form a liquid con taining the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for withdrawing and expanding the residual gas, means for cooling the entering gaseous mixture with the expanded gas, a rectifier, means for delivering said liquid to the top of the rectifier, means for withdrawing an efiiuent havfng substantially the composition of the entering aseous mixture from the top of the rectifier and means for separately withdrawing the vapor formed from the rectified liquid.

2. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combination of means for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to form a liquid-containing the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for withdrawing and.

expanding the residual gas, means for cooling the entering gaseous mixture with the expanded gas, a rectifier, means for delivering said liquid to the top of the rectifier, means for withdrawing an efiluent having substantially the composition of the entering gaseous mixture from the top of the rectifier. means for returning the efliuent for further separation and means for separately withdrawing the vapor formed from the rectified liquid.

3. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combination of means for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to forma liquid containing the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for withdrawing the residual gas, means for successively expanding separate portions of the residual as, means for utilizing the expanded resi ual Because they are subject tonaoaaaa gas to maintain the required low temperature in the apparatus and means for rectifying. said liquid.

4. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures,the combination of means for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to form a liquid con taining the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for withdrawing the residual gas, means for warming the residual gas, means for successively expanding separate portions of the residual gas, means for utilizing the expanded residual gas to maintain the required low temperature in the apparatus and means for rectifying said liquid.

5. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combination of means for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to form a liquid containing the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for rectifying the liquid, means for withdrawing vapor produced by evaporation of the liquid product of the rectification, means for separately expanding .the' residual gas and said vapor and means for utilizing the cold products of expansion to maintain the required low temperature of the apparatus.

6. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combinationof means for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to form a liquid containing the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for rectifying the liquid, means for withdrawing vapor produced by evaporation of the liquid roduct of the rectification. means for warming the residual gas and said vapor, means for separately expanding the residual gas and said vapor and means for utilizing the cold products of expansion to'maintain the required low temperature of the apparatus.

7. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combination of means for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to form a liquid containing the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for rectifying the liquid, means for withdrawing vapor produced by evaporation of the liquld product of the rectification, means for successively expanding the residual gas, means for separately expanding the vapor and means for utilizing the cold products of expansion to maintain the required low temperature of the apparatus.

8. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combination ofmeans for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to form'a liquid containing the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for withdrawing the residual gas and means for subjecting the liquid to rectification only with vapors arising from preceding portions thereof to sepaaeoaaae rate an effluent having substantially the composition of the entering gaseous mixture.

9. In an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combination of means for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to form a liquid containing the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for withdrawing the residual gas, means for subjecting the liquid to rectification only with vapors arising from preceding portions thereof to separate I an efiluent having substantially the composition of the entering gaseous mixture and means for returning the effluent for further liquefaction.

l0. lln an apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous mixtures, the combination of means for subjecting the mixture to selective liquefaction to form a liquid containing the constituents and a residual unliquefied gas, means for Withdrawing the residual gas, means for subjecting the liquid to rectification only with Vapors arising from preceding portions thereof to separate an effluent having substantially the composition of the entering gaseous mixture, means for Warming the effluent and means for combining the efiiuent with the entering gaseous mixture after initial compression thereof.

In testimony whereof ll affix my signature.

CLAUDE C. VAN NUYS. 

